# Launch escape system

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System to get the crew to safety if a rocket launch fails

Launch-abort-system and parachute test of the Apollo Command Module via [Little Joe II](/source/Little_Joe_II).

A **launch escape system** (**LES**) or **launch abort system** (**LAS**) is a crew-safety system connected to a [space capsule](/source/Space_capsule). It is used in the event of a critical emergency to quickly separate the capsule from its [launch vehicle](/source/Launch_vehicle) in case of an emergency requiring the abort of the launch, such as an impending explosion. The LES is typically controlled by a combination of automatic rocket failure detection, and a manual activation for the crew commander's use. The LES may be used while the launch vehicle is on the [launch pad](/source/Launch_pad), or during its ascent. Such systems are usually of three types:

- Diagram of [Gemini's](/source/Project_Gemini) launch escape sequence A solid-fueled rocket, mounted above the capsule on a tower, which delivers a relatively large thrust for a brief period of time to send the capsule a safe distance away from the launch vehicle, at which point the capsule's parachute recovery system can be used for a safe landing on ground or water. The escape tower and rocket are jettisoned from the [space vehicle](/source/Space_vehicle) in a normal flight at the point where it is either no longer needed, or cannot be effectively used to abort the flight. These have been used on the [Mercury](/source/Project_Mercury), [Apollo](/source/Apollo_spacecraft), [Orion](/source/Orion_(spacecraft)), [Soyuz](/source/Soyuz_(spacecraft)), and [Shenzhou](/source/Shenzhou_(spacecraft)) capsules.

- The crew are seated in seats that eject themselves (ejection seats) as used in military aircraft; each crew member returns to Earth with an individual parachute. Such systems are effective only in a limited range of altitudes and speeds. These have been used on the [Vostok](/source/Vostok_(spacecraft)) and [Gemini](/source/Project_Gemini) capsules, and [Space Shuttle *Columbia*](/source/Space_Shuttle_Columbia) during its testing phase.

- Thrusters integrated in the capsule or its detachable service module having the same function as an escape tower, as in the case of [Crew Dragon](/source/Crew_Dragon), [Starliner](/source/Boeing_Starliner) and [New Shepard](/source/New_Shepard).

## History

The escape system unintentionally blasted off from the Mercury spacecraft on the failed [Mercury-Redstone 1](/source/Mercury-Redstone_1) mission

The escape tower used by [Shenzhou](/source/Shenzhou_(spacecraft))

The idea of using a rocket to remove the capsule from a space vehicle was developed by [Maxime Faget](/source/Maxime_Faget) in 1958.[1] The system, using the tower on the top of the space capsule to house rockets, was first used on a test of the Project Mercury capsule in March 1959. Historically, LES were used on American [Mercury](/source/Project_Mercury) and [Apollo](/source/Apollo_abort_modes) spacecraft. Both designs used a [solid-fuel rocket](/source/Solid-fuel_rocket) motor. The Mercury LES was built by the Grand Central Rocket Company in [Redlands, California](/source/Redlands%2C_California) (which later became the [Lockheed Propulsion Company](/source/Lockheed_Propulsion_Company)). Apollo used [a design](/source/Apollo_(spacecraft)#Launch_escape_system_(LES)) that had many similarities to the Mercury system. LES continue to be used on the Russian [Soyuz](/source/Soyuz_(spacecraft)) and Chinese [Shenzhou spacecraft](/source/Shenzhou_spacecraft). The [SpaceX](/source/SpaceX) [Dragon 2](/source/SpaceX_Dragon_2) uses a [hypergolic](/source/Hypergolic_propellant) [liquid-fueled](/source/Liquid-propellant_rocket) launch abort system integrated to the capsule and the [Boeing Starliner](/source/Boeing_Starliner) uses abort thrusters in its service module.

## Related systems

Subsystems of Launch Escape System (Indian Space Research Organization, 2023)

The Soviet Vostok and American Gemini spacecraft both made use of [ejection seats](/source/Ejection_seat). The [European Space Agency](/source/European_Space_Agency)'s [Hermes](/source/Hermes_(shuttle)) and the Soviet [*Buran*-class](/source/Buran_programme) [spaceplanes](/source/Spaceplane) would also have made use of them if they had ever flown with crews. As shown by [Soyuz T-10a](/source/Soyuz_T-10-1), a LES must be able to carry a crew compartment from the launch pad to a height sufficient for its parachutes to open. Consequently, they must make use of large, powerful (and heavy) [solid rockets](/source/Solid_rocket). The Soyuz launch escape system is called САС or *SAS*, from the Russian/[transliterated](/source/Transliteration) Russian Система Аварийного Спасения or *Sistema Avariynogo Spaseniya*, meaning emergency rescue system.[2]

The Soviet [Proton launcher](/source/Proton_(rocket_family)) has flown dozens of times with an escape tower, under the [Zond program](/source/Zond_program) and the [TKS program](/source/TKS_(spacecraft)).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] All of its flights were uncrewed.

The [Space Shuttle](/source/Space_Shuttle) was fitted with ejection seats for the two pilots in the initial test flights, but these were removed once the vehicle was deemed operational and carried additional crew members,[3] which could not be provided with escape hatches. Following the 1986 [*Challenger* disaster](/source/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster), all surviving orbiters were fitted to allow for crew evacuation through the main ingress/egress hatch (using a specially developed parachute system that could be worn over a spacesuit),[3] although only when the shuttle was in a controlled glide.

A [Dragon 2](/source/SpaceX_Dragon_2) undergoing a pad abort test on May 6, 2015, demonstrating a "pusher" LAS.

The [Orion spacecraft](/source/Orion_spacecraft), which was developed to follow the Space Shuttle program, uses a Mercury and Apollo-style escape rocket system, while an alternative system, called the [Max Launch Abort System](/source/Max_Launch_Abort_System) (MLAS),[4] was investigated and would have used existing solid-rocket motors integrated into the bullet-shaped protective launch shroud.

Under NASA's [Commercial Crew Development](/source/Commercial_Crew_Development) (CCDev) program [Blue Origin](/source/Blue_Origin) was awarded $3.7 million for development of an innovative 'pusher' LAS. It is used on the [New Shepard Crew Capsule](/source/New_Shepard_Crew_Capsule).[5]

Also under NASA's CCDev program, SpaceX was awarded $75 million for the development of their own version of a "pusher" LAS.[6] Their Dragon 2 spacecraft uses its [SuperDraco](/source/SuperDraco) engines during a launch abort scenario. Although often referred to as a "pusher" arrangement since it lacks a tower, the [Dragon 2 LAS](/source/Dragon_2_Launch_Abort_System) removes both the capsule and its trunk together from the launch vehicle. The system is designed to abort with the SuperDraco engines at the top of the abort stack as occurs with a more traditional tractor LAS. The concept was first tested in a pad abort test conducted at [SLC-40](/source/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station_Space_Launch_Complex_40), [Cape Canaveral Air Force Station](/source/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station), on May 6, 2015.[7] SpaceX [tested the system](/source/Crew_Dragon_In-Flight_Abort_Test) on January 19, 2020, during a full-scale simulation of a Falcon 9 rocket malfunction at [Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39](/source/Kennedy_Space_Center_Launch_Complex_39), where it has later launched crews to the International Space Station.[8]

The second crewed spacecraft selected by NASA for its CCDev program was [Boeing](/source/Boeing)'s [CST-100 Starliner](/source/CST-100_Starliner), which, like SpaceX's Dragon 2 spacecraft, uses a "pusher" launch escape system, consisting of four launch abort engines mounted on the service module that can propel the spacecraft away from its Atlas V launch vehicle in an emergency on the pad or during ascent.[9] The engines, which use hypergolic propellants and generate 40,000 pounds-force (180 kN) of thrust each, are provided by [Aerojet Rocketdyne](/source/Aerojet_Rocketdyne).[10] The abort system was tested successfully during the [Starliner's pad abort test](/source/Boeing_Pad_Abort_Test) on November 4, 2019, at [White Sands Missile Range](/source/White_Sands_Missile_Range).[11]

[Orbital Sciences Corporation](/source/Orbital_Sciences_Corporation) intends[*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] to sell the LAS it was building for the Orion spacecraft to future commercial crew vehicle providers in the wake of the cancellation of the Constellation project.[12]

## Usage

[ISRO](/source/Indian_Space_Research_Organization) [Gaganyaan](/source/Gaganyaan) boilerplate during its launch escape system [pad abort test](/source/ISRO_Pad_Abort_Test), 5 July 2018.

During the [Mercury-Redstone 1](/source/Mercury-Redstone_1) mission on November 21, 1960, the escape system unintentionally blasted off from the Mercury spacecraft after the Redstone booster engine shut down just after ignition on the pad. The spacecraft remained attached to the booster on the ground.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

An accidental pad firing of a launch escape system occurred during the attempted launch of the uncrewed [Soyuz 7K-OK No.1](/source/Soyuz_7K-OK_No.1) spacecraft on December 14, 1966. The vehicle's strap-on boosters did not ignite, preventing the rocket from leaving the pad. About 30 minutes later, while the vehicle was being secured, the LES engine fired. Separation charges started a fire in the rocket's third stage, leading to an explosion that killed a pad worker. During the attempted launch, the booster switched from external to internal power as it normally would do, which then activated the abort sensing system. Originally it was thought that the LES firing was triggered by a gantry arm that tilted the rocket past seven degrees, meeting one of the defined in-flight abort conditions.[13]

Soviet officers watch as the [Soyuz T-10](/source/Soyuz_T-10-1) capsule aborts from the launch pad (September 1983).

The first usage with a crewed mission occurred during the attempt to launch [Soyuz T-10-1](/source/Soyuz_T-10-1) on September 26, 1983.[14] The rocket caught fire, just before launch, and the LES carried the crew capsule clear, seconds before the rocket exploded. The crew were subjected to an acceleration of 14 to 17 [*g*](/source/G-force) (140 to 170 m/s2) for five seconds and were badly bruised. Reportedly, the capsule reached an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) and landed 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) from the launch pad.

On October 11, 2018 the crew of [Soyuz MS-10](/source/Soyuz_MS-10) separated from their launch vehicle after a booster rocket separation failure occurred at an altitude of 50 km during the ascent. However, at this point in the mission the LES had already been ejected and was not used to separate the crew capsule from the rest of the launch vehicle. Backup motors were used to separate the crew capsule resulting in the crew landing safely and uninjured approximately 19 minutes after launch.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

On September 12, 2022 during Blue Origin [New Shepard](/source/New_Shepard) flight [NS-23](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-23), the booster's [BE-3](/source/BE-3) engine suffered a failure at about one minute into the flight. The launch escape system was triggered and the capsule successfully separated and landed nominally. The flight was carrying microgravity scientific payloads in the crew capsule, without crew on board.[15]

## See also

- [Flight termination system](/source/Flight_termination_system)

- [Apollo abort modes](/source/Apollo_abort_modes)

- [Soyuz abort modes](/source/Soyuz_abort_modes)

- [Pad Abort Test 1](/source/Pad_Abort_Test_1) – Launch Escape System (LES) abort test from launch pad with Apollo [Boilerplate](/source/Boilerplate_(spaceflight)) BP-6.

- [Pad Abort Test 2](/source/Pad_Abort_Test_2) – LES pad abort test of near Block-I CM with Apollo Boilerplate B-23A.

- [ISRO Pad Abort Test](/source/ISRO_Pad_Abort_Test) – pad abort test of ISRO crew module

- [Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test](/source/Crew_Dragon_In-Flight_Abort_Test) – Launch Abort test for the [SpaceX](/source/SpaceX) [Crew Dragon](/source/Crew_Dragon) capsule and [Falcon 9](/source/Falcon_9).

## References

This article incorporates [public domain material](https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/policies.html#Guidelines) from websites or documents of the [National Aeronautics and Space Administration](/source/National_Aeronautics_and_Space_Administration).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["astronautix Escape Tower"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131108103328/http://astronautix.com/craft/mertower.htm). *Encyclopedia Astronautica*. Archived from [the original](http://astronautix.com/craft/mertower.htm) on 2013-11-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** McHale, Suzy. ["Soyuz launch escape system – RuSpace"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140221212224/http://suzymchale.com/ruspace/soyescape.html). *suzymchale.com*. Archived from [the original](http://suzymchale.com/ruspace/soyescape.html) on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) Betancourt, Mark. ["They Said It Wasn't Possible to Escape the Space Shuttle. These Guys Showed It Was"](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/escape-speeding-shuttle-180975606/). *Smithsonian Magazine*. Retrieved 2022-08-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [NASA Spaceflight: *Orion MLAS*](http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5300) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071208094607/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5300) 2007-12-08 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Foust, Jeff. ["Blue Origin proposes orbital vehicle"](http://www.newspacejournal.com/2010/02/18/blue-origin-proposes-orbital-vehicle/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210118143215/http://www.newspacejournal.com/2010/02/18/blue-origin-proposes-orbital-vehicle/) from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2010-02-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Morring Jr., Frank. ["NASA Provides Seed Money For CCDev-2"](http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/04/19/02.xml). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110510203636/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news%2Fasd%2F2011%2F04%2F19%2F02.xml) from the original on 2011-05-10. Retrieved 2022-04-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Post, Hannah (6 May 2015). ["Crew Dragon Completes Pad Abort Test"](http://www.spacex.com/news/2015/05/06/crew-dragon-completes-pad-abort-test). *spacex.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160109231136/http://www.spacex.com/news/2015/05/06/crew-dragon-completes-pad-abort-test) from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["SpaceX moves launch of Dragon abort test to KSC"](http://www.clickorlando.com/news/spacex-moves-launch-of-dragon-abort-test-to-ksc/33950886). *Local 6*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150704222613/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/spacex-moves-launch-of-dragon-abort-test-to-ksc/33950886) from the original on 2015-07-04. Retrieved 2015-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Boeing's Starliner launch abort engine suffers problem during testing"](https://spacenews.com/boeings-starliner-launch-abort-engine-suffers-problem-during-testing/). *spacenews.com*. 22 July 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220425215606/https://spacenews.com/boeings-starliner-launch-abort-engine-suffers-problem-during-testing/) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Boeing's Starliner launch abort engine suffers problem during testing"](https://spacenews.com/boeings-starliner-launch-abort-engine-suffers-problem-during-testing/). *spacenews.com*. 22 July 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220425215606/https://spacenews.com/boeings-starliner-launch-abort-engine-suffers-problem-during-testing/) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Clark, Stephen (2019-11-04). ["Boeing tests crew capsule escape system"](https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/04/boeing-starliner-pad-abort/). *Spaceflight Now*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191214044139/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/04/boeing-starliner-pad-abort/) from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2020-06-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Clark, Stephen (2010-02-18). ["Orbital sees bright future for Orion launch abort system"](http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1002/18orionlas/). *Spaceflight Now*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100222035031/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1002/18orionlas/) from the original on 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2010-02-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Kamanin Diaries"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130817172305/http://astronautix.com/articles/kamaries.htm). *Encyclopedia Astronautica*. Archived from [the original](http://www.astronautix.com/articles/kamaries.htm) on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["A Brief History of Launch Aborts"](https://www.drewexmachina.com/2014/11/18/a-brief-history-of-launch-aborts/). *Drew Ex Machina*. 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2024-10-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Davenport, Justin (12 September 2022). ["New Shepard suffers in-flight abort on uncrewed NS-23 mission"](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/09/new-shepard-ns-23/). *NASASpaceflight.com*. Retrieved 12 September 2022.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Launch escape systems](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Launch_escape_systems).

- [Launch Pad Escape System Design (Human Spaceflight)](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20110012275). NASA.gov

- [Soyuz T-10-1](https://web.archive.org/web/20140805134401/http://astronautix.com/flights/soyzt101.htm)

- [NASA Orion Pad Abort 1 Test Flight Photos](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/multimedia/pad_abort_050610/orion_pa1_launch.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121126095200/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/multimedia/pad_abort_050610/orion_pa1_launch.html) 2012-11-26 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [NASA Pad Abort 1 Flight Test Video Highlights](https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=13781635)

v t e Constellation program List of missions Test flights MLAS (Jul 2009) Ares I-X (Oct 2009) Launch vehicles Ares I Ares IV Ares V Lite Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle Jupiter Spacecraft Crew Exploration Vehicle Orion Altair Launch sites Launch Complex 39 A B Ground facilities Kennedy Space Center Mission Control Center Abort systems Orion abort modes Launch Abort System (LAS) Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) Related topics Vision for Space Exploration Exploration Systems Architecture Study DIRECT Constellation Space Suit NASA Authorization Act of 2005 Augustine Commission Artemis program Category Commons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Launch escape system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_escape_system) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_escape_system?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.